Grand Rapids, Mich. — Governor Rick Snyder said he is standing behind the calls for Grandville Republican Dave Agema to resign from the RNC.
The Governor saying the comments the Republican National Committeeman has been making about gays and Muslims are out of line.
“It’s unfortunate. It shouldn’t happen. What he said was absolutely inappropriate,” said Governor Snyder.
Just last week, Agema posted video saying he’s not backing down on his beliefs about gays in the interest of free speech.
Agema supporters have been firing back, with online posts like this from the Delta County Republican Party in the UP.
It singles out Republicans in West Michigan who don’t share their views, saying, “In Case You Are Not Keeping Record: The Following Are the Republicans Who Have Blatantly Surrendered to the Homosexual and Stealth Jihad Agenda (By Virtue of their attacks on Dave Agema)”
It goes on to list Michigan Republican Party Chair Bobby Schostack, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland, U.S. Rep. Justin Amash and his challenger Brian Ellis and others who have called for Agema’s resignation from the RNC.The governor first gently called for more civility during his state of the state address.
“I’d like to make a call to all citizens of Michigan to ask us to have a greater degree of civility and respect towards others of different backgrounds and different views,” said Snyder.
However, now his voice has grown louder, Friday saying he stands behind the chair’s call for Agema to resign.
“I think I’ve sent that message in large part when, a couple things, the call for civility in the state of the state and then secondly, I came out and strongly supported what was going on with the national committee chair and the state party chair in terms of their actions. I appreciate them stepping up to take the appropriate actions.”
The question is, will the divide in the party effect the campaign trail ahead as the governor kicks off his re-election tour next week.
He hinted that some leaders within the party were working on the Agema problem, but wouldn’t comment on the divide it’s caused.
“Lets stay focused on civility and discourse and letting the party people do their role appropriately which I support,” said Snyder.
He also responded to the question of whether this issue was tearing the party apart by saying, “What I would say, is again, it’s just a terrible event to have happened, and it’s being addressed.”
When asked if it was a civil war within the party, Snyder said, “I’m not going to get into characterizations about the party.”
Snyder is also getting attacked by Tea Party activists as well.
An online post from one of those members of the party in Michigan contained Snyder’s picture and said, ”Just say NO to “Relentless Progresive Action!”
When asked how Snyder might win the most conservative votes in the middle of this growing tension within the party, Snyder said he wasn’t focused on it.
“Well, again, I’m looking not to look at the politics of all of this,” he said. “I’m interested in getting all Michiganders to work better together and that’s what I’m working on.”
Snyder will be heading to Grand Rapids Monday to kick of his reelection campaign tour.
